In my notes last week I over-praised the proposed reforms
of the Diplomatic Service. Apparently the Commercial Diplomatic, whose members are appointed by the Department of Overseas Trade, is still excluded from the scope of these reforms, on the ground that its members are interested only in the sale of British goods. In this world of clearing-agree- ments they are as often as not interested in preventing such sales which might upset the delicate balance of trade. Economic policy, especially in dictator States, has such obvious and un- pleasant influence upon foreign policy that it seems unwise to keep the budding Minister shut up in the Chancery while the Commercial Counsellor along the passage is hob-nobbing with Ministers of Commerce and Finance or drafting learned telegrams on political economy, to be sent home over his ambassador's signature.
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